The Real McCoy: DT provides solution Cowboys haven’t tried yet, proven talent

The Dallas Cowboys had one of the best signings of the ff-season when they added defensive tackle Gerlad McCoy.

The Dallas Cowboys made some great signings during 2020 free agency, partly because they finally had some money to use. One of those moves was to shore up their defensive line, adding veteran defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

It was a move made out of necessity, but also aided by a new coaching staff who brought a new philosophy for the position. The Cowboys lost Maliek Collins to the Oakland Raiders, leaving a void in the middle of the defense. The team moved quickly, adding McCoy as a strong response.

Bringing in a good veteran DT is a departure from what the Cowboys did under former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. When Marinelli was in Dallas, he was in favor of addressing the holes at DT by drafting and plugging away with pedestrian veteran players who made up for their lack of talent with effort. As one of the games best teachers, Marinelli felt he could get the most out of those workman type of bodies.

Predictably, the defense got decent returns from the Nick Hayden and Terrell McClain’s of the league, but not the difference makers that McCoy can be. The new defensive staff under Mike Nolan have shifted that philosophy.

The first sign of Nolan’s influence was when the Cowboys signed McCoy to a three-year, $18.3 million deal that can be worth over $20 million. It’s a great deal for Dallas, who added a good player who likely could’ve made more elsewhere. Playing closer his home in Oklahoma City, OK might have played a role in his decision, but playing for a contender meant much more to McCoy.

The 10-year veteran out of Oklahoma spent last season with the Carolina Panthers after spending his first nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his career, McCoy has yet to be a part of a playoff team and has only been a part of two winning seasons. The Cowboys’ roster for the next few years offers McCoy a shot at winning.

As the third-overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, McCoy has been one of the better defensive tackles in the game since entering the league. McCoy has been named to six Pro Bowls and named an All-Pro once, in 2013. He might not have the same production he had during his peak years in Tampa, but McCoy can still play at a high level.

Playing his career primarily inside, McCoy has 59.5 career sacks, including eight straight seasons of at least five takedowns. In the past six seasons under Marinelli, only four Dallas DT’s have accomplished that feat, none have done it twice and only David Irving’s seven in 2017 were more than the required threshold of five.

However, McCoy also offers versatility, he picked up five sacks last year playing defensive end and tackle for the Panthers. That’s a huge plus for the Cowboys, who will be using multiple defensive fronts under Nolan.

In Dallas, the 32-year old McCoy will be a starting DT, but having the ability to play different positions on the defensive line is a bonus. McCoy the type of consistent pass rusher from the inside they have lacked since Jason Hatcher left the building.

Playing next to McCoy will also benefit DE DeMarcus Lawrence. The sack total for Lawrence was down last season, but McCoy brings the need to be double-teamed on the inside. That attention paid to McCoy on the interior should create more one-on-one opportunities for Lawrence. The last time Lawrence had a DT take some of the heat away from him on the outside, Lawrence had a 14.5 sack season.

McCoy is also stout in the running game, he was credited with 25 stops in 2019.

The Cowboys have to hope last season was a bit of a resurgence for McCoy, who played in all 16 games for the first time since 2013. Injuries and age have caught up to the veteran DT, but he is the best player the team has had in the middle in a long time.

The Cowboys finally brought in a good player to be a force on the interior of their defensive line. Gone are the days of their defensive tackles being try-hard guys who don’t provide enough pass rush, or can’t stop the run. McCoy has the ability to do both at a high level.

McCoy’s signing could turn out to be one of the better moves in the off-season.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi

This is part of our Countdown to the Regular Season player profile countdown. With 92days remaining until the NFL’s first game, up next is defensive end Dorance Armstrong.

| Antwaun Woods | Tyrone Crawford | Trysten Hill | Jalen Jelks |
| Dontari Poe | Randy Gregory|

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